Associate-9% vs national median297 grads tracked
Biological and Physical Sciences at Prairie State College
Ranked 47th of 58 associate programs in Biological and Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$28,114
middle 50%: $21,257 – $42,786
Median · 5 years out
$44,308
middle 50%: $31,104 – $67,042
Median · 10 years out
$68,521
middle 50%: $47,510 – $106,640
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Biological and Physical Sciences (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Biological and Physical Sciences graduates earn $28k in their first year. Median pay rises to $69k after a decade.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
9.2 yrs
≈ $11,625 total interest
Same major at other universities
Southeastern Illinois College
$46,127 · 5 yrs out
John Wood Community College
$45,643 · 5 yrs out
South Suburban College
$45,372 · 5 yrs out
John A. Logan College
$44,706 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Wabash Valley College
$44,515 · 5 yrs out
Carl Sandburg College
$44,463 · 5 yrs out
Spoon River College
$44,073 · 5 yrs out
Morton College
$44,017 · 5 yrs out
Laramie County Community College
$43,798 · 5 yrs out
Lewis and Clark Community College
$43,792 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges -Frontier Community College
$43,647 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$42,990 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Prairie State College
Precision Production (Certificate)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$104,958 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$89,458 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$89,458 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$80,210 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$74,448 · 5 yrs out